Youngsters are helping to get the safety first message across in their new roles.

Working in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council’s road safety officers and Cheshire Constabulary, two special events were held to sign the children up for their new role as junior safety officer (JSO).

Each school was invited to nominate two Year 6 pupils as JSO for this school year, with a 96% take up so far.

The role of a JSO is to communicate monthly messages and organise competitions in their school. The JSOs have now received their certificate and badge of office and will use a special school guide to help them promote road, personal and community safety during their year in office.

The overall aim is to communicate messages regarding road safety, community safety and personal safety to all the pupils in each school who will then take the messages home to their families.

At the end of their year in office the JSO can put his or her name forward for an award to select who has made the biggest impact to promote the safety messages to their school and local community.

Cllr Lynn Riley, the council’s executive member for localities, said: “It is always amazing to see so many children across the borough getting actively involved in promoting safety in their school environment.

“This year’s launches were well attended by the newly appointed JSOs and their families and friends with many of the teaching staff attending and getting involved as well.

“This is a wonderful scheme for delivering practical and fun ways for our children to stay safe at school, at home and at play and the enthusiasm and commitment that the children bring to the programme, as well as a range of new ideas of their own, is always great to see.”

Inspector Richard Rees of Cheshire Constabulary said: “Through the JSO initiative we are working in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council to show the children how they can work together to keep their school community safe.

“The JSOs help us make a difference so that we make sure everyone stays safe and feels safe in the area they live.

“Once again the JSOs are all keen to get started and are excited to continue the hard work of past officers.”